Ask Graham where he wants to live, just go on up one day and ask. The answer is always, always the same- North Carolina. I just ignore it and say Georgia/Florida are the only two places I'll ever call home. But he's adamant about so many of the things found in that surprising state. In truth, it's easy to see why now upon realizing his obsession began as a child, when he toured the Blue Ridge Parkway every other summer. His intriguing love of scenic views has only escalated since, and when we found out he had 3 unclaimed vacation days we decided to schedule it around my birthday up in the Asheville area.
    I'll sum it up with much more interesting words when I have time. In the meantime? Crank your volume up to hear a melody from Mr. Alexander himself whilst viewing all of the important parts of our escapade. And of course my audio is from my favorite band, Kings of Leon.




    I'll be honest, it's a pretty impressive place :)

Florida Gators 10/18

    That's my man. ;) Of course he isn't always a Quasimodo look-a-like but he certainly achieved it during a photo I took at the Florida Gator game. Yesterday we went with the biggest of all UF champion I know, a Mr. Ed Alexander, father-in-law. The grandiose arm chomps might have been for naught, since Missouri severely defeated them, but regardless I truly had a wonderful time.

    Many moons ago, the Gator games provided a fun and free date for the two of us. I'd go, with a limited knowledge of the pigskin, and ask relentless questions while yelling on as a good things happened for the team (and sometimes, on accident, bad things). But, not being a huge fan, wins and losses are both received fine. Fast forward, the same proves to be true!

    I knew buying these metallic orange britches would come in handy someday! 

Panera Bread Posts

    Right now: I’m sitting in Panera Bread with a laptop, a bread bowl and my headphones. To catch up with me…

 4 weeks ago I had to let my employer know through a series of hectic, yet pretty expected events, I would no longer be able to continue nannying. The answer was the result of a lot of praying, discussing it with Graham and weighing all of the prons&cons. Inevitably, it felt like the right thing to do so, I’m working twice a month throughout October from here on out… then I’m going to focus on being a full- time student, wife, Young Women’s leader and anything else that pops up. It has been incredibly frustrating at times trying to juggle it all; my schooling and house work has certainly suffered, and I’m excited to realign my life, hopefully with more success. I’m sure I’ll pick up a little part- time gig but I am not going to begin to worry with that until I have all of my current classes have met the deadline of November 30^th.

    So anyway to motivate myself to pick up the pace I used my day off to wake up early , to take Graham to work and bring the laptop to a location with free Wifi. Plus it can be so awkward that I fell like “ugh better hurry to get out of here!” So with only 1 hour away from this dang place for an oil change, I’ve been reading, catching up on tasks and snacking on all their goodies. (Drawback, for sure, I’m going to try to bring a PB&Honey with a water bottle to cut down on costs, but I feel guilty taking up space without spending a dime.) But seriously though, you guys, I am really digging Panera Bread, it’s delicious, they don’t mind if I sit for hours on end in one chair, I can order a meal right from my cell phone, I’ve left my laptop for a few minutes and no one stole it, they gave me a free cookie, there isn’t a charge for their internet services (don’t act like you don’t want to slap the places that require you to pay) and they’re over-the-top friendly. I like ‘em a lot.

    I ended up putting on my Unchained Melody station, a favorite, and the nostalgia of home hit me simultaneously with a sense of appreciation. Yesterday when I had the chance to eat lunch with my Uncle Luke, Aunt Kelly and boys (who were all headed to Orlando) I was definitely impressed with my uncle, duh. To all who know me personally, he has been a role model for me since he left at 19 years old to the first missionary in an exorbitantly large family (“Mama, I think he’s good enough to be the Prophet one day!” “Well Lacey, I don’t know about Prophet, maybe a Bishop.” Then he checked that off at age 26ish, you never know what's next!) So anyways, my totally wonderful uncle was chatting and said, “you know Lacey I’m trying to teach these boys that our trip [a 4 night, 3 day stay at Disney World] isn’t because I’m so smart or because I’m so good- looking and it was just given to us …it’s because I’m blessed.” YES. Just yes, there it is. A blessing given to a family that has a great father who knows enough to remain humble. I hope to follow in suit of those good examples around me, and with that:

I’m grateful for the past 18 month of experiences as a nanny, it was such a growing time for me, I feel so much more confident in my ability to parent.

I’m grateful that my husband has a job that can support the two of us for a time, and that he is on board with the new changes.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to go to school, as slow as this process has been for me, I hope to be able to make my parents proud by fulfilling their dream to have a college graduate.

I’m grateful that though times have felt immensely hard lately, life has settled recently, and I pray that it continues to happen like that.

   So yep, there that is. I hope lots of awesome things will continue coming in the future. This weekend Graham and I are going on a Youth Temple Trip, I’m going to teach my first lesson in Young Women and I’m going home (but just for a day, long story). This post feels incredibly long, and nothing but ramblings compiled into one post, but

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   Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Choose your Love, Love your Choice

    3 years ago today Graham asked me to be his girlfriend. In 5 days we will celebrate 1 year and a half of marriage. 2 weeks after that will be 2 years from the day he proposed. In a whirlwind it happened, our own little love story fell into place.

    Graham, you're perfect for me. 

    Choose your love, love your choice. ~Pres. Thomas S Monson

When Life Gets You Down...

    The past two weeks have been one enormous vortex full of doom and gloom. My family, my own small one, has went through multiple things back to back that have been really strenuous! Seriously- uber demanding trials to try to trudge through... I'm not going to grocery list them, sometimes I feel that since I am blogging my life that I must too over-share. You know, lay out all the deets; but I definitely won't do that without feeling the consent of my loved ones, or my own for that matter.
    But it all seems to be laid on thick, all at once. And all locals know that when it rains in Jacksonville, it doesn't stop for days...
    It's been hard to try to feel, you know, happy while everything around us seems to feel moved from the careful crevices due to some unknown harsh storms (too much of this same analogy?) Writing it any differently can't change that though. I have thought and reworded and erased and retyped. But life seems to be somewhere deep in the pits, much farther than seems necessary.
    But my Sunday will come.To anyone with a difficult situation our Sunday will come.These rough days are hopefully setting sail with new, enjoyable adventures to embark on.
    If you're praying folk, I beseech you to think of those who are struggling with some formidable situations or tasks. Sometimes, faith is more necessary than breathing.

    Through all of the trials I must go through, at least I have you.